Closure for pressure vessels



y 1, 1952 T. B. HARRlS 2,601,936

CLOSURE FOR PRESSURE VESSELS Filed Aug. 23, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 kljj fINVENTOR.

Tedd E .i-l arris y 1952 'r. B. HARRIS 2,601,936

CLOSURE FOR PRESSURE VESSELS Filed Aug. 25, 1946 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /92/ I 40 N v I 20 r5 22 f4 L71 IN V EN TIOR. dd 5 :H 01712 5 y 1952 1. B.HARRIS 2,601,936

CLOSURE FOR PRESSURE VESSELS Filed Aug. 25, 1946 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. 7

f1 c h .212 ITEc/c/ 5,, :H CZFFiEf BY h y 1952 T. B. HARRIS 2,601,936

CLOSURE FOR PRESSURE VESSELS Filed Aug. 23, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.

dZ'TL/E Patented July 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The presentinvention relates to a closure for pressure vessels, and moreparticularly to a closure which can readily be brought into and out ofsealingrelation with the vessel on which it is mounted.

In various types of vessels which may vary in size all the way fromsmall domestic cooking vesselsto, large retorts such as those used forthe pressure treating of telephone poles with preservative, it isdesirable to have a closure which may readily be brought into sealingrelation with the vessel on whichit is mounted, which will remain, insealing relation under substantial pressure, and which may be releasedfrom pressure sealing engagement with the vessel without danger to anoperator performing the unsealin or opening operation.

Various types of closures'for pressure vessels have been developed, someof which are extremely simple in operation and others which are rathercumbersome and complicated. However, in larger pressure vessels atleast, it still is common practiceto use a'plurality of, wing nutsmounted on pivoted bolts around the mouth of the vessel which engagelugs on the cover so that by screwing down-thewing nuts the cover isforced into pressure sealing engagement with the. vessel. I V

, An object of the present invention is to make an? improved closureforpressure vessels.

Another object is to make a closure for pressure vessels which will seala vessel effectively against 'leakage from internal pressure and whichmay readily be released from sealing engagement with-the vessel.

Another object is to make a closure for a pressure vessel, the closurehaving a plurality of radially' projecting axially acting cams which,through inter-action with cams carried by the vessel; draw the coverinto sealing relation withthe vessel.

Another object is to provide a closure for'pressure vessels with alocking cam ring whereby the closure can be drawn into pressure sealingrelation with the vessel. and thereafter can be released first to aninitial pressure releasing stage, and secondly to a fully opencondition.

Another object is to provide a closure for pressure vessels with a camacting device for holding the closure in pressure sealing relation withthe vessel and to provide simple and safe releasing. means for releasingthe closure from pressure sealing relation with the vessel.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be morefully apparent from a 2 perusal of the following description of aspecific embodiment of the invention, and the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate such embodiment.

In the drawings, of which there are four sheets:

. Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a retort door embodying the presentinvention, the door being mounted on a short cylinder of boiler platewhich is adapted to be welded so as to be co-extensive with thecylindrical side wall of a tank for which the door is intended, the doorin Fig. 1 being illustrated as slightly ajar;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a planeparallel to the axis of a cylindrical wall portion and perpendicular toa radius of the cylindrical tank section on which the device is mounted,said plane passing through a pair of interlocking cams with the doorclosed and locked;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but with the cams unlocked;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-.-4 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. .5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational oblique rear view showing the hinge side of theassembly shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.7 is a view on the same scale as Figs. 2-5, inclusive, showing afragment of a cam locking ring as viewed from the forward or door side;

Fig. 8 is a similarly enlarged view of a marginal edge portion of thecover, showing a cam locking Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the marginal rim about the open endof the tank or vessel on which the device is mounted, showing aresilient sealing ring mounted in a groove in the rim;

Fig. 12 isan exploded view of a modified form of closure showing avessel, a lid and a locking Fig. l3.is an enlarged sectional view on theFig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the uppermarginal rim portion of the assembly shownin Fig. 12 with the partsassembled and the cover locked in sealing position thereon; and j Fig.15 is a sectional view on the line i5l5 of Fig. 14.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and considering first theembodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-11, inclusive, a tank top portion [0is of boiler plate rolled into cylindrical form to correspond with thesize of boiler on which it is to be mounted. The ends of thiscylindrical portion are secured together as by welding at ll, Fig. 1.This cylindrical tank top portion is adapted to be welded onto acylindrical tank 12, as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 6, along theline l3, the cylindrical top portion l0 and the wall of the tank 12being co-extensive. In the case of large tanks this practice ispreferred to building a door or closure locking ring assembly, after thelocking ring has assembly directly onto the tank, since the shortcylindrical top portion [0 is-easier to handle during the production ofthe device than is an entire tank, although either method may beemployed. Furthermore, this arrangement greatly facilitates replacing ofother types of doors or closures where tanks already are in operation inthe field. It merely requires cutting ofi the portion of the old tankhaving the door or closure mechanism embodied thereon and welding on thenew cylindrical top portion ill with the new cover assembly mountedthereon. The cylindrical portion l0 may be considered as the wall of thetank and will be referred to as such herein.

The outer end of the tank wall 10 has a radiallyprojecting rim H! ofsteel, which may be either rolled up into a ring from suitablerectangular bar stock. or may be cast, or cut from a suitable plate, asdesired.

In order to facilitate explanation of the various parts of the presentmechanism, the rear of all parts will be assumed to be toward the bottomof the tank, while the term "front" will be used to refer to theopposite direction.

The rear face of the rim M is machined to a smooth surface in a planeperpendicular to the axis of the tank, and a groove I5 is machined inthe forward face of this rim. A sealing ring I! of resilient material,such as synthetic rubber, is mounted in the groove [5. The front portionof this sealing ring has a beveled edge portion 18 directed radiallyinward toward the center of the tank. A locking ring 19 is illustratedas a welded assembly comprising an annular rear section 20, an annularintermediate section 2|, and a plurality of lockinglugs 22. which arewelded to the forward end'of the intermediate section to projectradially inwardly therefrom.

' The forward face of the rear locking ring member 28 is machinedsmoothly on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the annular assemblythus formed, and a plurality of rollers 23 are mounted on the rear faceof the rear locking ring member 20 to roll on the tank wall 10 and thuspermit free rotation of the locking ring i9, within limits of thestructure to be described later herein.

The internal diameter of the annular rear portion 20 of the locking ringI9 is somewhat larger than the diameter of the tank wall 10 so as topermit free rotation of the locking ring without binding on the tankwall. i w.

The lugs 22 preferably are shorter than the spaces between adjacent lugs22. A locking cam 24 is mounted on the rear face of eachof the lugs 22,these locking cams extending approximately one-half the lengthen each ofthe lugs 22. The rearward faces. of the earns 24 are disposed. at aslope of approximately 5 degrees to the plane of the locking ring [9.

A cam releasing lug 25 is welded'to the rear been rotated to apredetermined position relatively to the cover, as will be brought outlater herein. The rollers 23 and 21 thus act as a stop to limit therotation of the locking ring 19 during an unlocking operation.

A handle rod 28 is securely mounted on the locking ring assembly, as bywelding, to provide means for manually rotating the locking ringrelatively to the tank in opening and closing the tank door or closure.A device for releasing the cam look when it is desired to open the doorincludes a yoke 29 Welded to the tank wall I0 rearwardly of the lockingring [9. A lever 30 is pivoted on a pin 3| mounted in the yoke 29.

The lever 38 has a slot 32 lengthwise therein adapted to receive the pin3| so that the lever 30 is free for limited movement axially thereof. Ahook33 is secured to a side of the lever 30 to projectdownwardlytherefrom when the lever is swung to unlocking position.

In normal position the lever 30 is upright, as indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 1, with the lower end thereof retained by a pin 34 mountedtrans-' versely of the yoke 29. To release the lever from this uprightposition it mayberaised axially upwardly, the pivot pin 3| riding in theslotted opening 32 in the lever 30 to release the lower end of the leverfrom engagement with the retaining pin 34. When the locking. ringassembly is in looking position the lug 25, which projects radiallyoutwardly from the locking ring, is in position to be struck by thelever 30 when the lever is swung from the dotted line position in Fig. 1to the solid line position in the same figure. Striking this lug 25 withthe lever 30 provides a powerful lever inertia action which rotates thelocking, ring 19 and moves the cams from-sealing position, after whichthe locking ring rotates freely on the rollers 23 and may be manipulatedby the handle 28.

31 which may be of suitable boiler plate with a U-shaped handle 38mounted thereon. A door rim--33'which may be cut, as'by means of acutting torch from a plate of steel of suitable thickness, is of a sizeto receive the lower marginal edge portion of the domed portion 31therein. The rim 39 is welded'to the portion 3'! as'shown in Fig. 4.

A pluralityof door lugs 40, which may as hinge supports 44 and 45 whichare welded on the tank wall 10 rearwardly of the locking ring. A, hingerod or pin ,4! pivotally secures the hinge support lugs to thehingesupports. The fit between the hinge pin 41, and the parts pivotallyassociated therewith isrelatively free so asto A door orclosure 35comprises a domed portion On the forward face of each of these:

support lugs 42 and 43;.are

locking ring I9 is rotated by downward pressure onthe handle 28 to theposition illustrated in Fig. 1, where it is prevented from furtherrotation in a counterclockwise direction relatively to the tank by theengagement of the rollers 23 and 2'| (see Fig. 6). This moves the lugs22 on the looking ring out of registering position relatively to thelugs 40 on the door 35. The door 35 is then swung to closed position onits hinges, the door lugs 40 passing through the spaces between adjacentlugs 23 on the locking ring IS.

The operator then grasps the locking ring handle 28 and raises up on itforcibly, thereby rotating the locking ring on the rollers 23 in aclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 1. This action drives the ringlocking cams 24 forcibly'onto the locking cams 4| on the door, therebyforcing the door rim 33 rearwardly into compressive engagement with theresilient sealing ring I! and eifectively sealing the door to the tank;When thus in cam locked position, the lugs 22 and 49 and cams 24 and 4|are in the. relative positions illustrated in Fig. 2. It is to be notedthat the locking cams 24 and 41 are so positioned that as the lockingring is rotated into locking position the lugs 22 and 40 initiallyoverlap before the cams overlap and engage, as shown in Fig. 3.

After the processing which is conducted in the tank has been completed,the door is released by raising the releasing lever 33 axially upward tofree its lower end from engagement with the retaining pin 34 and thenforcibly swinging the lever 33 downward in a clockwise direction fromthe dotted line position of Fig. 1, causing the lever 30 to strike lug25 on the locking ring. This action rotates the locking ring in acounterclockwise direction which moves the cams out of engagement witheach other and moves the lugs 22 and 40 into the relative positionsillustrated in Fig. 3. The hook 33 mounted beneath the lever 3|! engagesthe lug 25 during this downward swinging movement and arrests therotative movement of the locking ring I9. This prevents the locking ringfrom rotating beyond the position illustrated in Fig. 3 during thisunlocking action by means of the lever 30. This leaves the lugs 22 and40 in overlapping relation and prevents the door from opening fully,although it is opened sufiiciently to release the sealing pressure onthe resilient member l1 and permits the release of steam or pressurizedgases from the tank. The retaining of the lugs 22 and 40 in suchoverlapping relation prevents the door from being blown forcibly outwardin case pressure should still exist within the tank or retort when thecam lock is released.

After all pressure has been released from the interior of the tank withthe parts in the position illustrated-in Fig. 3, the lever 30 isreturned to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1, therebyreleasing the hook 33 from engagement with the lug 25. After the hook 33has been released from engagement with the lug 25, the locking ring |9can be rotated by means of the handle 28 to the full limit of itscounterclockwise rotation, as determined by the rollers 23 and 21. Inthis position the door lugs 43 are free to pass between adjacent lugs 22on the lookingring, and the door may be swung open on its hinges bygrasping the door handle 38.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 12-15, inclusive,which may be assumed to be for use on a domestic or restaurant cookinvessel 50, a wall 5| of the vessel corresponds to the tank wall Win theform previously described. A rim 52 projects radially outward from theupper edge of the vessel wall 5| and a plurality of lugs 53 projectradially outward from the periphery of the rim 52. A portion of thelower surface of each of these lugs is sloped, as at 54, to form a cam.

A cover member 55 comprises adomed disc whichmay be of a diametersubstantially equal to that of the rim 52 between the lugs '53. Thecover 55 has a groove 51 in the lower edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 14,and asealing ring 58- of suitable resilient material is mounted in thegroove. I

A locking ring 59 has an annular top portion 60, the internal diameterof which is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the mouth ofthe cooking vessel. The locking ring 59 also has an annular side wallportion 6|, the internal diameter of which is slightly greater than theoverall diameter of the top rim 52 and the lugs 53.

A plurality of radially inwardly directed lugs 62 are provided on thelower edge of the sidewall 6|, these lugs being of a size to fit withinthe spaces between adjacent lugs 53 on the rim 52. A portion of theupper surface of each of the inwardly directed locking ring lugs 62 ofthe locking ring is sloped to form a cam 63 adapted to engage the cams54 on the rim lugs 53.

A lever 64 is pivoted on the locking ring, the lower end of the leverextending downwardly within the ring so as to be positioned adjacent anend of a lug 53 on the rim 52 when the looking ring is in lookingposition. The lever 64 has an upwardly extending handle portion 65 inposition to be grasped for swinging the lower end of the lever againstthe end of the rim lug 53, thereby rotating the locking ring to free thecams from looking engagement with each other.

A knob 37 is provided on the locking rin preferably diametricallyopposite to the release lever 64, so that by grasping the knob 61 andthe lever 64, the cover may be rotated to force the cams into lockingrelation with each other, thereby forcing the cover downwardly tocompress the resilient sealing ring 58 against the rim 52 as illustratedin Fig. 14.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, both for heavy industrial use and for lighter domesticpurposes, it will be apparent to those familiar with the art thatnumerous modifications are possible without departing from the spirit ofmy invention. Itis, therefore, desired not to limit the invention exceptas specifically defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A closure for pressure vessels comprising in combination with an openmouthed vessel, a rim projecting radially around the open mouth of saidvessel, said rim having a sealing surface thereon, a closure adapted toclose the open mouth of said vessel, said closure having a sealingsurface adapted to be positioned opposite the sealing surface on saidrim, a plurality of radially disposed lugs on one of said members havinga sealing surface thereon, a cam on each of said lugs, said camsextending less than the full length of said lugs, a locking ring havinga portion thereof adapted to overlie a marginal portion of one of saidmembers having a sealmg surface thereon, said locking ring having a 7plurality of radially disposed lugsadapted to pass between adjacent lugson said member, a cam on each of said locking ring lugs, said; lattercams extending less than the full length of the locking ring lugs, saidlocking ring being rotatable initially to carry the. lugs intooverlapping non-sealing relation. and thereafter into cam engagingposition to'force said cover and vsaid rim into mutual sealingengagement, and releasable stop means apart from said lugsfor limitingrelease movement of said locking ring to a position such that saidfirst-mentioned lu s and said locking ring. lugsare in overlappingnon-sealing relation.

,2. A closure for pressure vessels comprising in combination with anopen mouthed vessel; a rim projecting radially outward around the openmouth of said vessel, a closure removably positioned on said rim,resilient sealing means interposed between the closure and the rim, aplurality of cam lugs adjacent said sealing member, a rotatable lockingring surrounding said rim and having portions thereof projectinginwardly to overlie said rim and said closure, cam means carried by saidlocking ring and having cam engagement with said closure, therebyforcing said closure toward said rim in compressive sealing engagementwith saidresilient sealing membenforce multiplying meansincluding alever on said vessel mounted to rotate'said locking ring toward a camreleasingposition, interengaging releasable stop means on saidlever andsaid locking ring to limit the degree of rotation of said locking ringby said force multiplying means, and secondary stop meansmounted tolimit further rotation of said locking ring after release thereof fromsaid releasable stop means.

, TEDD B. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,565,645 Hills Dec. 15, 19251,887,700 Stevens Nov. 15, 1932 1,927,029 Hammer Sept. 19, 19332,022,868 Nelson Dec. 3, 1935 2,102,962 Ludington Dec. 21, 19372,334,448 Sheridan Nov. 16, 1943 2,355,896 Wyld Aug. 15, 1944 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 171,712 Switzerland Dec. 1, 1934 565,307Great Britain, .Nov.,6,j1944

